LVN's in Peds

[FrumDoula]

Hi everyone -

I'm getting ready to take my LVN test here in northern CA. (Bay Area)

For those of you that are on the peds floor, do you see LVN's hired very often to work the floor? Obviously, I'm sure it's only RN's at the PICU level (and rightly so, in my mind), but I would love to get some good peds experience before I begin working toward my RN.

Anyone have any words of wisdom?

Alison

[desireepirl]

Well I can't really say what happens in the state of CA but I cna tell you how it worked for me in PA. I was LPN for yr before I decided to do staffing, through that exp I got the opportunity to get peds exp. I have worked in Peds home Care for 7 yrs now. I love my job, but my goal is to work at Children's Hospital, unfortunitly here in PA the hospital only hires RN"S. They will hire GN's even but not LPN's. It may be different in your state. It is a little upsetting to me, due to the fact I have worked with premies/newborns on trach's and vent's but can't work with them in the acute setting of the hospital, but can work with them in the acute home setting. My advice to you is to call the nurse recruiter of local peds hospital and ask if they utilize LVN's. I could work at Children's here but as a patient care tech(PCT), they dont utilize LPN's, a PCT is almost the same as a CNA. I wouldn't want to loose those wonderful skills I have learned so far, so I have chosen to return for my BSN.

Aslo some Home care Peds agencies have very extensive training for inexperienced LPN's, and will give you more than enough orientation time at the patients home. Make sure if thats something you decide to do, that you feel completely comfortable before your first shift. I premie in crisis can make even the most exp. nurse uneasy. You will know if Peds is for you at the end of the forst week. Hope everything goes well for you. Best of luck

Desiree